upon our neck. And now, since thou hast come hither, thine shall be whatever is mine. But cherish for me this boy, whom born late, and unhoped-for, the immortals have bestowed [on us], and to me he is a subject of many prayers. If thou wilt train him up, and he reach the measure of youth, with reason will any one of womankind, seeing, envy thee, such great gifts will I[1] give thee for his nursing." But her in turn well-crowned Ceres addressed:
"And thou too, lady, all hail! and may the gods grant thee good things. But I will willingly receive thy boy, as thou biddest me, to nurture,[2] nor, I trust, will charms harm him, nor [deadly] plant,[3] through the carelessness of his nurse. For I know a remedy much more efficacious †than wood cutting,† and I know an excellent antidote for baleful spells."
Thus having spoken, she received him in her fragrant bosom and immortal hands, and his mother rejoiced in mind. Thus she indeed trained up in the palace Demophoon, the glorious son of prudent Celeus, whom well-girt Metaneira bore. But he grew up like unto a god, neither eating food nor sucking.[4] But Ceres anointed him with ambrosia, as though sprung from a god, breathing sweetly upon him, and having him in her bosom. But at night she concealed him in the might of fire, like a brand, without the knowledge of his dear parents. But to them he was a great marvel, how bloomingly he sprang up, and was like unto the gods in person. And truly she would have rendered him free from old age, and immortal,[5] unless well-girt Metaneira, in her folly, watching by night, had looked out from her perfumed chamber, and shrieked, and smitten both her thighs, fearing for her son, and she was greatly disturbed in mind, and bewailing, she addressed winged words: "My child Demophoon,
- ↑ Perhaps δοιή would be better. But see Hermann.
- ↑ I read θρέψαι, with Herm., who compares Hesiod, Theog. 479.
- ↑ I can make nothing of οὔθ' ὑποταμνόν, nor can Ruhnken. I have followed Liddell's interpretation, "plant cut off at the root for magical purposes," but am by no means satisfied.
- ↑ See Hermann.
- ↑ Apollodorus, i. 5, says that he actually perished in the fire. "The same story is told in regard to the infant Achilles. His mother Thetis was taking similar measures to render him immortal, when his father Peleus interfered and prevented the consummation. Thetis immediately left him in great wrath (Apollon. Rhod. iv. 866)." Grote, p. 53.
